Competitive adsorption and mobility sequence of heavy metals in urban soils of southeastern China

Article type: Research Article

Authors: ZHANG, Ming-kui | FANG, Li-ping | HUANG, Chang-yong

Affiliations: Department of Natural Resource Sciences, College of Natural Resource and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Heavy metals can be introduced into urban soils at the same time. Therefore, their selective retention and competitive adsorption by the soils become of major importance in determining their availability and movement throughout the soil. In this study, the availability and mobility of six heavy metals in eight urban soils collected from different cities of Zhejiang Province, southeastern China were assessed using distribution coefficients (Kd) and retardation factor (Rf). The results showed that there were great differences in the Kd and Rf among the tested soils. The adsorption sequences were Cr>Pb>Cu>Cd>Zn>Ni, and the Kd decreased with increasing levels of metal addition. Ni generally has the lowest Rf values followed closely by Cd, and Zn whereas Cr and Pb reached the highest values. The results suggest that Ni and Zn have the highest mobility associated to the lowest adsorption, Cr and Pb present the opposite behavior. Correlation analysis indicates that soil pH, CaCO_3 content, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) are key factors controlling the solubility and mobility of the metals in the urban soils.

Keywords: competitive adsorption, mobility sequence, heavy metal, urban soil

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 329-333, 2006